The influence of age on gambling problems worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis of risk among younger, middle-aged, and older adults.
J Behav Addict
; 13(3): 702-715, 2024 Oct 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39269778
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims:
Problem gambling (PG) represents a significant public health concern with widespread effects in various cultures and regions globally, with younger individuals and males at a particularly higher risk. This disparity is attributed to a mix of cultural, developmental, and biological influences. To date, there has not been a comprehensive examination to determine whether this risk pattern holds consistently across different jurisdictions.Methods:
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA framework, identifying 21 eligible studies from 18 countries, encompassing 156,249 participants (47.6% male and 52.4% female).Results:
The studies varied considerably by region (Asia 19%, Europe 52%, Oceania 19%, North America 10%), the diagnostic criteria for PG, and participation rates in gambling (ranging from 12% to 92%). Data on PG prevalence was categorised by gender and three age groups (young 18-35, middle 30-55, and older 45-65). Using a random-effects meta-analysis, we found a global PG prevalence of 1.9%. Europe reported a significantly lower prevalence (1.3%) compared to North America (5.3%). Men were found to be 3.4 times more likely than women to engage in problem gambling, although the gap narrows in North America. The young demographic showed a 1.51 times higher likelihood of reporting PG compared to the middle-aged group, whereas older adults were 0.80 times less likely to report PG. Notably, age-related effects varied significantly across regions.Conclusions:
Our findings confirm that age and gender significantly influence PG risk across cultures, with significant heterogeneity observed across jurisdictions.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Jogo de Azar
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article